EASTLEIGH are into the Hampshire Senior Cup final after they edged out AFC Totton 1-0, writes Doug Webber.
In a closely-fought match, Jordan Ragguette flashed a fierce ball across the box but no Totton player could get on the end of it.
It was the visitors who took the lead after 20 minutes with Tom Bragg lashing home from close range after a melée.
Just after the hour mark, Eastleigh should have doubled their lead through Brendan Willson’s header.
The Stags were so close to equalising when Ethan Taylor blasted past the post following Hisham Kasimu’s lay-off.
Lewis Noice’s incredible double save kept Totton in the tie and Eastleigh hit both posts as they made the showpiece finale at their home ground.
Eastleigh lost the final of this competition last season, going down on penalties to AFC Bournemouth with Mark Travers, now Cherries' first-choice keeper, the goalscoring hero.
This year they will face either Farnborough or AFC Portchester in the final.
Stags: Noice, Baughan, Rabbetts, Read, Kpohomouh, Jefford (Olumuyiwa, 62), Hoey (E Taylor, h-t), Adams, Williams, Gwengwe (Kasimu, 62), Ragguette.
Subs: Griffin, Masterson.
Spitfires: Flitney, Burgess, Willson, Bragg, Harper, Mann, R Taylor, Yang, Haylor (Ebejer, 8 (Dyer, 82)), Simpson, Munn.
Unused subs: Edwards, Marchant, Medcraff.
Attendance: 462.
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